.. title: Setting the compose key on Xfce
.. slug: setting-the-compose-key-on-xfce
.. date: 2018-10-03 13:21:27 UTC+02:00
.. tags: linux, xfce
.. category: 
.. link: 
.. description: Setting the compose key on Xfce
.. type: text

The `compose key`_ is a handy tool to generate characters that aren't available
on your keyboard. On Xfce there isn't a readily accessible way to set it, but
it can be done rather easily from the **Settings Editor**:

1. Launch the **Settings Editor** from
   *Applications > Settings > Settings Editor* or via the terminal by executing
   the ``xfce4-settings-editor`` command
2. Select the **keyboard-layout** channel
3. Look for the **Compose** property under *Default > XkbOptions > Compose*
4. To enable the compose key you have to enter one of the following values in
   the **Compose** property:

   ============ =============
   Compose key  Value
   ============ =============
   Right Win    compose:rwin
   Left Win     compose:lwin
   Right Ctrl   compose:rctrl
   Left Ctrl    compose:lctrl
   Right Alt    compose:ralt
   ============ =============

The resulting setting should look like this (I'm using the right Windows key in
this example):

.. image:: /images/xfce-compose-key.png

.. _`compose key`: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compose_key